hello! i have recently been thinking of buying a cheap 1911 type pistol, maybe from firestorm since it is cheap in my country.

the compact model caught my eye as a ccw . i was wondering if anyone has experience if after market parts would fit in it? like barrels, springs and such? incase it is not accurate and i need to change a few things.

it would be my first time to purchase a gun, mostly inherited what i have now. and to be honest, i dont know much about 1911's
any info would be appreciated

I believe this answer from David M at Yahoo Answers addresses your qustion:

Quote:

The Llama Firestorm was the last Llama 1911 ever made to my knowledge. They were notorious for small parts problems and at least one range in my area refused to let any Llamas be fired on the property after an incident involving one. Llama, RIA, and Norinco 1911 pistols are manufactured using metrics (mm) while Kimber, Colt, and SA use imperial units of measure (inches). Metric guns are a pain because even grip panel screws are metric. Some imperial unit replacement parts work fine and some do not. One thing about the Llamas is that the safety plunger tube is not staked in to the gun, but rather held in by two very small screws that are hidden by the top of the grip panel. As far as the grip panels themselves are concerned, the screws are spaced furtherapart than on a traditional 1911. I would always stick with a 1911 that is manufactured using inches of measurement rather than millimeters.

UPDATE: RIA 1911 are metric. I owned one and the guide had measurements listed in metric. RIA is an ISO 9001 compliant manufacturer. They even boasted this when the guns first came out (like it meant something). They are metric, period. I'll uninclude the Norinco (except for the screw and/or screw bushing situation).

Not sure about the Llamas, but my RIA has had a new grip safety, hammer, mainspring housing, sear, disconnector, trigger, barrel, and many different grip panels in the short time I've owned it. No issue with metric vs. imperial measurements, everything has fit fine.

__________________
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I've owned 2 Firestorm .45 Government Models. The screws for the safety plunger tubes were a minor issue until I used loctite to hold them in place. True, the grip screws are further apart. This means if you want to change the grip panels, you have to find Llama types or have them made. Both guns ate every kind of ammo I fed them. Both are in other homes now, but are still fired on a regular basis with no troubles.

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NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, Home Firearms Safety, Pistol and Rifle Instructor"There are three classes of people: those who see, those who see when they are shown, those who do not see."
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Sir;
I would disuade you from this. I've worked on compact series and have found them to basically be junk.
If you are using this for protection I definately would suggest another make as there is NOTHING so disheartening as a jam in a fight!
Sorry, but I just might save your life.
As a matter of fact I, in gunfights, never use anything but a single stack (7 round Wilson Rogers magazine) full size 1911.
Taurus has some very good prices and are of excellent quality - I just acquired a PT1911 with rail myself. They'r fine guns - also the Rock Island Arsenal and other Phillipine made 1911s I've found to be good pistols, or even a good Ballister Molina.
Harry B.

the 1911 i was talking about was from firestorm, but the type made in the philippines, not the old south-american(?) made ones. has anybody had any experience with this? it is relatively new, some of the models sold in my area haven't even reached it to the USA, and are only sold here.

as for RIA, im considering it, but have not had time to check out the gunstores since its the holidays and most are closed.
does anybody have experience on the RIA commander type models? any feedback would be appreciatted

btw, thank you for all who replied, i got alot of answers to my questions

Sir;
The Chatles Daly and the Rock Island Armory made in the Phillipines are, in my opinion, useable 45s. The Norinco was good too but the Chinese seem to leave their steel very hard indeed. I've cut front sights of some and I have to draw the tember to a grey to cut.
The Llamas I've seen over the years are pretty shoddy, especially the compact ones.
Springfields are super, so are Taurus PT1911s and Colt is good too but I'd rather have a Springfield.
I hope you find what you want but there is some wisdom in that you just get what you pay for - I've fit barrels to the Phillipines and they are not too bad to fit - but not real close to specs but good tight guns.
Harry B.

I just this morning read a review of the new Philippine made Firestorm that was actually reasonably favorable (Gun Week, January 1, 2009 issue). It was the DLX model. No target accuracy, but the reviewer said the craftsmanship was much better than on the old Llama from Argentina. I would expect the dimensions to be off the Llama drawings. If the new gun is carefully made and the metric conversions are accurate, then it may be OK on interchangeability of all but the grip panels, which I understand have different screw spacing? Unlike Harry, I've not had an opportunity to work on one myself.

Hey all I own the Firestorm 1911 compact 45 as well as a Kimber ultra carry 2(CCW) and a springfield XD 45 compact. So I feel I can speak a little about the firestorm and compare it to the others I bought the FireStorm brand new way back in 1993. I broke the gun in properly it is now 2009 and I just shot it this past weekend still shoots grea. Shooting at 7 yards defensive type yardage. it will punch out the x ring or any number you choose on the target. I have never had a issue with this gun it has never failed to fire and only jammed during the 1st box of ammo as I recall. The only issue I have ever had with the Firestorm is the gravely trigger fixed that with a different backspring and polishing cloth on the trigger sides now well I can say I would depend on this weapon if my life depended on it. Of course who knows which one I might have with me today :-) True some of the parts will not interchange like grips. But this is a CCW and like I tell my biker buds Chrome don't get you home or in this case it doesn't need to be purdy to work it just works. Ya'll have a great day.

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